cat-eyed snake

The cat-eyed snake, belonging to the genus Leptodeira, is a type of rear-fanged snake found in the New World tropics. These nocturnal hunters are characterized by vertically elliptical pupils that contract to narrow slits during the day and expand at night to maximize light intake. They typically have slender, laterally compressed bodies and triangular heads distinct from their necks.1

While possessing mild venom delivered through short rear fangs, they are not considered dangerous to humans. Cat-eyed snakes primarily feed on frogs and lizards, and females lay clutches of 3 to 12 eggs. The banded cat-eyed snake (L. annulata) is the most common species within this genus.1